SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES RUPERT EVERETT’S THE HAPPY PRINCE

BERLIN, GERMANY (February 16, 2018) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all North American and Latin American rights to THE HAPPY PRINCE, written and directed by, and starring Rupert Everett.  The film has its European premiere tomorrow at the Berlin International Film Festival as a Special Gala.  It also stars Colin Morgan, Edwin Thomas, Colin Firth, Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson.  THE HAPPY PRINCE had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

The film was produced by Sébastien Delloye, Philipp Kreuzer and Jörg Schulze.  It is a maze pictures and Entre Chien et Loup production in co-production with Palomar, cine plus Filmproduktion, Tele München Group, RTBF, Proximus and in association with BBC Films. CAA represented the filmmakers in the negotiation.  Beta Cinema represents the international rights.

The last days of Oscar Wilde—and the ghosts that haunted them—are vividly evoked in Rupert Everett's directorial debut. Everett gives a career defining performance as Wilde, physically and emotionally embodying the literary genius as he lives out his last days in exile in Europe. His body ailing and heavy, his mind spinning, he survives by falling back on the flamboyant irony and brilliant wit that defined him. As the film travels through Wilde's final act and journeys through England, France and Italy, desire and loyalty face off, the transience of lust is laid bare, and the true riches of love are revealed

"I am absolutely thrilled, particularly because Michael and Tom distributed my first film ANOTHER COUNTRY," said Everett.

Sony Pictures Classics is planning a 2018 release.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.  Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 37 Academy Awards® (33 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 169 Academy Award® nominations (143 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com/.